Long-term vision put in place for FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship

Lausanne, Switzerland, May 6, 2014 – FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° signed the contract for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship 2014 with Switzerland-based promoter Eventcourt last week, which includes a ground-breaking, long-term option to organise the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship from 2015 to 2019.

Eventcourt, which first organised the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship last year in Zurich, has a vision to collaborate with the FIVB to take the Women’s Club World Championship to another level of organisation with a more professional framework, including the best club teams from around the world.

The deal encompasses the rights for the 2014 edition of the FIVB’s annual women’s club event with an option for the years 2015 to 2019, which could also involve a change of format and locations.

“This is a ground-breaking moment for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship where we now have a long-term vision in place,” President Graça said. “We are very pleased to be able to come to an agreement with such a dynamic promoter like Eventcourt with the potential to grow and promote the best of women’s club volleyball in the most innovative fashion possible.”

“FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° has presented us with his programme for the modernisation of volleyball,” Eventcourt chairman Stav Jacobi said. “We will bring in our experience and passion to be able to contribute our share to his ambitious plan. We are aware of the responsibility that we bear by hosting the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship for the next five years. We will position this tournament in a way that will lead to success.”

The 2014 edition has already undergone a change with two wild card appointments replacing the vacancies which were offered to Africa and NORCECA in 2013.

The FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship first started in 1991 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before being held in Italy (1992), Brazil (1994), Qatar (2010 to 2012) and then passing to Zurich, where Eventcourt is the current organiser.